Atul Subhash, a software engineer with years of experience technology sector, sat quietly in front of a camera, composed and deliberate.Over the next 1 hour and 81 minutes, he recorded a final account of his anguish with striking calm, speaking without visible breakdown, as though he had rehearsed the moment for months.Soon after, he died by suicide, hanging himself from a ceiling fan.His death was not just another personal tragedy. It became one of the most disturbing and widely discussed cases involving a tech professional, raising questions about mental distress, marital conflict, legal battles, and the unbearable pressures that can build behind the polished image of urban professional success.He is not the only one.
In Bengaluru, a city that symbolizes aspiration, innovation, and upward mobility, a series of cases involving software engineers and other technology workers have exposed a darker reality: lives marked by isolation, emotional collapse, domestic turmoil, and, in some instances, extreme violence.Some died by suicide. Some were accused of killing partners, spouses, or family members. In each case, the contrast was jarring — educated, employed, seemingly stable professionals at the center of acts of devastation.
The case that shook the conversation
Subhash’s case struck a chord because he left behind a 24‑page suicide note and a video outlining what he described as incessant harassment from his estranged wife and her family. He alleged they had filed a barrage of legal complaints against him — including dowry, domestic violence and even attempt to murder — and demanded exorbitant sums to settle matrimonial disputes. Subhash’s note, peppered with the repeated phrase
“Justice is due,” also criticised what he saw as systemic legal failings that compounded his distress. He implored that his body not be immersed until his fight for justice was seen through.
The dowry harassment
While Subhash’s story is still finding answers, other cases in and around Bengaluru reflect different facets of distress among tech professionals.A 35‑year‑old former software engineer, P Sushma, died by suicide at her home in Soladevanahalli after years of alleged domestic harassment and dowry demands.Her father, a retired police officer, told investigators that repeated quarrels — even over everyday matters like cooking — and alleged pressure from her mother‑in‑law had driven her to take her own life. Her husband was arrested on dowry‑related charges days after her death.Another case from late 2025 involved 27‑year‑old Shilpa Panchangamath, a software engineer found hanging at her residence in BTM Layout. Her family alleged relentless dowry harassment by her husband and his mother, who, they said, demanded more money and valuables even after a substantial wedding dowry and gifts. Shilpa, who was pregnant at the time, had reportedly been taunted over her appearance and pressured over repeated financial demands.
The mental discord
A 30‑year‑old software engineer, Mayank Rajani, allegedly jumped to his death from the 12th floor of his apartment complex near Kudlu. His family said he had suffered ongoing health issues and the distress of a failed startup venture, which contributed to his emotional turmoil.Last year, hundreds of IT and ITes employees in Bengaluru rallied at Freedom Park, demanding better work‑life balance, enforcement of labour laws and recognition of mental health challenges within the industry. Organisers cited long hours, unpaid overtime and unrealistic deadlines as persistent stressors that harm wellbeing and productivity.
‘Pressured by officials’
One of the most recent examples is that of 45-year-old software professional Murali Govindaraju, who ended his life , citing harassment by a local family and officials from the erstwhile BBMP, now Greater Bengaluru Authority (GBA). Govindaraju, a resident of Brookbong Layout in Whitefield and father of two young daughters, worked at a private software company in ITPL. He was found dead in his under-construction home in Nallurahalli. In a note he left behind, he alleged persistent pressure and intimidation.
The obsession
A 34‑year‑old software engineer Sharmila Kushalappa, who worked with Accenture, was found dead in her rented flat in Ramamurthynagar, east Bengaluru, on the night of January 3. Initially believed to have succumbed to smoke inhalation after a fire broke out in her home, forensic and post‑mortem findings soon upended that theory.A Student plotted her killing after she resisted his advances; flat set ablaze to mask crime‘More than 70% of IT professionals experience mental health challenges’In 2025, hundreds of IT and ITeS employees gathered at Freedom Park, demanding recognition of their right to a healthy work-life balance. Organised by the Karnataka State IT/ITeS Employees Union (KITU), the protest highlighted that many employees are routinely expected to work beyond official hours without extra pay. Participants said the pressures of unrealistic deadlines, unpaid overtime, and an unregulated work environment are taking a heavy toll on both mental and physical health. Citing recent studies, they warned that more than 70% of IT professionals experience mental health challenges, including burnout, chronic stress, and lifestyle-related illnesses.
The geography of techie crime cases
Many of the incidents involving IT professionals have occurred in areas that form the backbone of Bengaluru’s technology ecosystem.Neighbourhoods such as Whitefield, Marathahalli, Electronic City, and Bellandur are among the city’s largest residential hubs for software engineers and startup employees.
Complex mosaic of triggers
Among contributing factors — particularly in cities like Bengaluru where many professionals live away from their home towns and extended families — are:
- Isolation and loneliness, especially for those far from familial support networks.
- High work pressure and long hours, often exacerbated by global teams and demanding deadlines.
- Financial stress, including loans, personal business ventures gone awry, or wedding expenses.
- Domestic tensions, ranging from dowry and in‑law disagreements to broader marital conflict.
The need for stronger support systems
Improving mental health awareness and support systems could help reduce stress among young professionals.Several technology companies in Bengaluru have introduced employee assistance programmes offering confidential counselling and mental health support.Workplace initiatives focusing on stress management, relationship counselling and emotional well-being are also becoming more common.Stigma surrounding mental health continues to discourage many individuals from seeking help early.Community networks, peer support and family connections can also play an important role in helping individuals cope with personal crises.
